New Delhi: Andhra Pradesh, a major renewable energy producer (RE), had an installed RE capacity of about 8,723 megawatts (MW) by 30 April 2021, according to the latest data.
The state had installed a renewable energy capacity of about 8,646 MW by March 31, 2021.
Of the 8,723 MW of installed capacity, wind energy projects took the largest share with a capacity of 4,084 MW, followed by solar power with a capacity of 4,047 MW commissioned which was 3,970 MW by 31 March 2021, according to the latest status report by Andhra Pradesh’s state nodal agency for RE programmes, New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation.
In 2020-21, total solar commissioned capacity was 76.50 MW.
The state commissioned a total capacity of 103 MW in small hydroprojects until 30 April 2021, while biomass, biomass energy co-generation and bagasse projects contributed a total of 443 MW to the state’s renewable energy capacity. Municipal solid waste and industrial waste capacity stood at 47 MW by April 30, 2021.
It added that the state’s total renewable energy capacity commissioned to 2020-21 was 8,646 MW.
The state government announced its renewable energy export policy for solar, wind and wind hybrid projects in July 2020. This enabled the state to use potential land to set up projects to export power to other states and, in return, attract investment and generate revenue.
Globally, according to Ember, an energy think tank, the Global Electricity Power Review, wind and solar showed resilient growth in 2020, despite the Covid-19 pandemic, forcing a record fall in global coal power. The review analysed electricity data from every country in the world, giving the first accurate view of the 2020 global electricity transition. It also revealed that in 2020, wind and solar generated nearly one-tenth of global electricity.
The pandemic halted the world in 2020, pausing the world’s rising demand for electricity. The slight drop in demand (-0.1%) was the first fall since 2009, although it was smaller than the financial crisis impact, the Electricity Review said.
Despite the pandemic, wind and solar power energy showed resilient global growth in 2020, up 15% (+314 TWh) from 2019. Wind and solar growth helped push coal power to a record 4% drop (-346 TWh).
